Avoiding the domestic sheep is the hard part! (Oct 22ndish) Then didnt see but one live cow, and two small small bulls One Live mature 170 ish live deer on that signature danger bound off, and a small buck taken . Of course weve made some upgrades since then, including simple bathrooms, lights, and propane heat. Thank you! Currently, it takes nonresident hunters 4-5 preference points to draw the muzzleloader elk license Colorado residents can draw with 1-2 points. largest elk herd in the United States. This camp has a 16'x20' cook tent with wood heat and propane lights and cooking. $4950 per person Guided hunts are based from the Lodge and include; Accommodations, meals, guides and game packing. Flat Tops, also known as the "Cradle of Wilderness," is where the idea of wilderness was first applied to public land. With the binoculars up, I told Saeed a bull was making his way through the timber and to get ready. Expect to return to camp after dark, where our guides will prepare a hot dinner before setting in for the night. A lot of western creeks and high alpine lakes are teaming with trout. Sure I make a living guiding/outfitting but the proof is in the pudding and drop camp hunter success is usually double to triple that of hunters that completely do it on their own. The camps are located high up and well back into the Flat Tops Wilderness and are reached by horse. Then, well set off into the wilderness for a day of hunting. Colorado Hunting Units/Areas: 23, 24, 33; Find . Secluded, guided hunts available in units 33 and 34. So we decided to watch them and see what they did. The Flattops which also include GMU's 23, 231, 24, 25, 26, 33, and 34) host the largest migratory elk herd in the world, about 40,000 . Trophy Bull Elk Hunting in Flat Tops Wilderness Trophy Bull Elk Hunts We offer full service guided trophy elk hunts at our Fowler Peak Camp. There were several cows bedded down, but we had agreed that Saeed would shoot first at a bull, and then Bobby could shoot at a cow. is of interest to you please call right away. Upon drawing your tag, a 50% non-refundable deposit is due immediately to secure your dates. Thats good news for you because that 55 bull doesnt want those cows taken away from him by another bull. Within a few seconds after looking through the binoculars a bull was spotted bedded down on the far side of the bowl, just shy of 700 yards. (Note: meals and lodging are not included). Elk, deer and moose find the area quite pleasant in the summer. Cliff and his outfit have been guiding elk and mule deer hunters in Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness Area for over 30 years so needless to say, he is a book of knowledge when it comes to hunting big game on public land. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Whether you hunt big game such as Mule Deer, Elk or Bear or enjoy fly fishing private river frontage in a wilderness setting or want a ride in and ride out snowmobile cabin location, Wild Skies' year-round cabins located on the Northern end of the Flat Tops in the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Colorado in Game Management Unit 12 and in Craig . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When you are talking to an outfitter and asking questions the honest outfitter that sets true expectations will most likely be the one you are happiest with. The prices listed above do not include your hunting license or associated fees from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The second rifle season takes place at the end of October. This may help to dissuade other hunters from going to that unit or part of the unit. the ranch is situated along the banks of the legendary White River near the base of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. still in velvet. Spend the night in one of our cabins as our packers load your gear for departure the next morning. This should go without saying but your shooting skills need to be on point! Please use our convenient online form or call Paul directly at 970.878.5122. I have a rule of thumb with zero scientific backing to it, but its a 3 to 1 rule. If you have the OnX Hunt app you can transfer points from Google Earth onto it or you can just use the app and look at the satellite/contour lines to find elky areas. Ripple Creek Lodge offers accommodations in comfortable cabins, guided fishing adventures, trail riding excitement and relaxing family vacations in the unforgettable Flat Tops Wilderness Area and White River National Forest. Elk Hunting: Yes. This vast country Here we offer guided and unguided hunts in the Flat Tops The wilderness designation means no motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed in this beautiful, pristine area. they again get up and move to feed. The OP might want to read the recent altitude thread. During your guided hunt you will stay in one of our historic cabins and travel on horseback each day into the Flat Tops Wilderness to access primitive hunting areas. Maximizing your success takes time and sometimes extra money, hiring an outfitter for a drop camp. Mental toughness and physical fitness go together like Forest Gump and Jenny. I have hunted 25/26 for the last 3 years and have found what has been mentioned. He has personally guided dozens of big game hunts, while his previous businesses have operated more than a thousand wilderness expeditions. From there, we had a fifty yard stretch of loose rock on the hillside that at the time seemed almost impossible to cross without accidentally knocking a rock loose alerting every elk in the area that we were there. This is also a great time to be building your friendship. The White River is home to the largest elk herd in the world. located 5-8 miles from the trailhead. Game packing for guided clients is included in the fee and guided day hunts can be reserved for Licensed Colorado Outfitter #3488. Do you want drainages or gps coordinates where the elk are? Budges Wilderness Lodge operates under Special Use Permits on the White River National Forest and is an equal opportunity service provider. This is a post-rut elk hunt. Each day we laughed and talked about our big adventure. If you settle youll regret it everyday! These are the original cabins built by Ed Budge in the 1920s. Saeed had both a bull tag and a buck tag, and I had seen a few elk on the top of the mountain first season and one gigantic muley! This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about the best hunting spots, local culture, and zip codes in Colorado.As a hunter, you. On a good week of hunting 80% of the hunters in camp might take an elk. You probably wont have much competition due to the extremely limited tags in that area. you reserve. Know the difference between 3 hour old poop and day old poop. But when you get discouraged its best to soak in the little things! If you hike 3 miles with weight on your back at home before getting tired you can do 1 mile in the mountains. Our lodge and outfitting is proud to offer quality guided Big Game hunts and drop camps in the White River National Forest and Flat Tops Wilderness Area of northwest Colorado GMU 24. Required fields are marked *. Our private cabin consists of over 70 acres surrounded on three sides by the Routt National Forest on prime National Forest Land. Hunters who reserve a spot ahead of the draw have first priority. If the hunt is unsuccessful we will leave the elk during the day and return later in the afternoon when This is a draw area for archery, however the odds are good even for hunters with 0-1 preference points. I've DIY hunted otc archery in the flat tops wilderness and west elk wilderness. Batte Outfitters 8/21-11/15 Guided day hunting 12 Harp Point 601-536-3168 Beaver Creek Outfitters Summer Overnight trips with pack horses Flat Tops Wilderness, Lost Lakes . . A $500 non-refundable deposit reserves your spot and locks in your price at the current rates. Our lodge-based elk hunts include five full days of hunting, six nights accommodations and meals. the elk began their migration north and west to the lower high-country desert wintering areas. miles of back country in the White Semi-guided horse pack in tent camp hunt for bull or cow and deer for only $2495 Most of the outfitters in this region bring hunters into the draws that lead into Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness, GMU025 because it requires less time and effort. Owner & Outfitter - Paul Janke If you do not have a high-clearance vehicle or prefer not to drive to the lodge, we offer pick-up at the Eagle County Regional Airport for $600, round trip per vehicle. As the elk are running through the timber, it is hard to know exactly which animals had been shot at. Plus it'll take a couple days to adjust. Our large hunt area and number of camps allows us to increase your chances. Hunting is spot and stalk and still hunting. The odds are tough any given year, but as you put in your time you will achieve success. Hunters during this season usually experience mild weather - but of course there are never any guarantees when it comes to weather in the high country. For hunters using an outfitted drop camp you dont have to worry about weight as much but most likely your outfitter will have a weight limit per person. It's no wonder Carhart found the area so entrancing: behind Trappers Lake loom steep volcanic cliffs and beyond them a vast subalpine terrain yields to alpine tundra. Flat Tops is one of the easiest to hunt places I've ever elk hunted! Rarely, does a bull get killed in an area that hasnt had an elk killed there in the past 5 years. e.) Camaraderie, enjoying yourself, and fishing. If you are hunting with a buddy, and dont have a decoy another great strategy is for you to get set up about 60 yards down wind of your buddy that is calling and the caller behind some kind of topography. The next two days we hunted close to camp, still sore from our long horse back ride. However, hes looking right at that spot and is looking for that cow. Cows started to appear left and right much closer and we could see bulls meandering through the thick dark timber. Mental toughness can not be taught, but is learned through shitty experiences. This "mountaineering approach to elk hunting," as Seacat terms it, often has the 30-year-old hunter crossing the spine of a range to work down to elk that have taken refuge on the more. No matter the hunting pressure in the area elk still rut they just do it more in the dark than they do during the day. Physical fitness may get you to camp or almost there. Appreciate the tips, you dropped a lot of great information here! You are using an out of date browser. Its amazing the oxygen difference at 2,000 feet back home in your office and 10,000 feet with a 50 pound pack! Performance & security by Cloudflare. They are professional, experienced back-country woodsmen and know how to handle horses. Check out this great video on survival and fire making. Average costs: Be ready to adjust . How about build one if it has been raining for 3 days and everything is soaked, or maybe you fell at a creek crossing and the tinder that you carry is soaked. I dont recommend shooting an animal past 60 yards with a bow because too much can happen during that split second your arrow is in the air. It was a shocker to all of us. This deposit does not expire and will remain active until you draw the license. Ive seen a lot of animals killed with a bow and have never seen a broadhead not do exactly what it advertises it does. This is the third largest Wilderness in Colorado. Is pack out assistance included in the $500 once season opens? Soaring interest in Colorado's big-game hunting seasons for animals like deer, elk and bear far outpaces the number of licenses that state wildlife officials have to offer, driving . You must log in or register to reply here. Please let us know if youd like to arrange transportation. morning. Also offers wilderness pack trips. I dont think that there is a hunter out there that doesnt regret going home early, because they are discouraged. At Budges Wilderness lodge, we look forward to helping you plan an elk hunt that meets your goals and expectations. about us Activities Horseback rides Having a game plan is key to start the day! However, in OTC units there are not as many herd situations as you may think. It currently takes a nonresident hunter 1-2 preference points to draw the archery elk license. This letter is intended to provide potential and returning clients information about the upcoming hunting season. Deposit and balance payments may be made by check, wire transfer or credit card. The flatops are pretty high in elevation. You are using an out of date browser. Lisa Bennett. The Flat Tops is a large area. My guess is that your shot wont be at 20, 30, or 40 yards on the dot. However, I bet there will be a time during the hunt that youll glass up elk that you cant efficiently hunt from your base camp. Give a shout if you have any specific questions and I'll try to help you out. Elk hunting is the main attraction in the Flat Tops Wilderness and White River National Forest but contact us to discuss bear, moose or mule deer hunts. I'm sure there you can find solitude somewhere there, but we haven't found that place yet lol. T Bone was that a draw unit or an otc? Once you figure a handful of those spots out, youre golden. There just wasnt another shot. Includes: Five full days of guided horseback hunting, eight nights lodging and meals. (and shed hunting) in Northern Nevada was tough but . When we got back into camp, Saeed could barely move from all those hours in the saddle. Click here to reserve your spot now. Guided 2X1 hunts are $4400. Regardless of where you are at the elk will act the same..if it is warm during the day (40 degrees and greater) hunt the dark timber on the north facing slopes as far from the truck as you can get. Big Game Hunting Areas Aspen-Sopris Ranger District Basalt Area Blanco Ranger District (East of Meeker, CO) Flat Tops NW Big Fish #1819 Big Marvine Peak #2258 Big Ridge #1820 Posted by on April 13, 2023 | Featured | best seats at staples center for a concert on April 13, 2023 | Featured | best seats at staples center for a concert Of course we work extremely hard to give our clients every opportunity. If you want to have the DIY experience and increase success you may want to think about hiring an outfitter and doing a drop camp. . However, know that ounces equals pounds and pound equal pain. I hunted there in 2nd and 3rd seasons for deer and elk respectively. Some callers believe this only works on a herd bull. All of our guests who harvest an animal will go home with a set of these reusable game bags. Steve Bland Before heading down to look for blood, the four of us sat there in amazement with the task we just pulled off. Cliff is an avid outdoorsman, pilot and certified wilderness first responder. I think like stated above buying a point this year wouldn't hurt to do. Yesterday it was the garden of Eden, elk everywhere; now I didnt see any with my naked eye. April 11, 2023 - 266 likes, 5 comments - Flat Tops Wilderness Guides (@flattopswildernessguides) on Instagram: "Welcome to guided elk camp! This is especially a great tool to use when you are not hearing much talking going on, which happens A LOT in OTC units that receive hunting pressure. OTC elk hunts are tough and success is very low. accommodations in modern cabins, or from tent camps. Take a stick and rake the crap out of a sapling with it but be ready! Book Our Cabins Elk Hunt Colorado with Ripple Creek Lodge If this is the route for you, pick your outfitter not the unit. Hunters can expect to start their day with a hearty breakfast in the main lodge. To prevent accidentally shooting the wrong elk, thinking that its the one you already shot, I told Saeed and Bobby to put their rifles on safe. Any advice appreciated. We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020, Colorado OTC Archery Elk - Hunting in a Group vs. Alone & Number of Tags. You are welcome to tip these individuals separately, or you can leave a single amount and we can divide it among the crew. What makes this area excellent for elk archery hunts is that because we have lots of elk the opportunity to encounter Below is a description of the elk hunting available with Colorado High Country If along the way ridge running you see fresh elk sign go investigate it! Evan and I were out front with Saeed and Bobby right behind us. We made the hike back to the horses and jumped on. Within minutes we were headed up the trail to camp. Includes: Five full days of guided horseback hunting, six nights lodging and 3 meals daily. I know this sounds miserable but thats OTC elk hunting for you. All the other hunters you will see are probably just grouse hunters. Our wilderness camps are simple yet comfortable, with 16x20 wall tents and wood burning stoves, along with large cots and thick pads. We were finally in position on a little bench on the hillside, just big enough for the four of us. provide the you with a guided hunt into the wilderness area on horseback and you only pay for the number of days It may be day 4 and you havent seen or heard an elk. Spraying weeds on public lands not private ones at 10k feet - makes perfect sense to me. An attached cook tent provides a separate space for our guides to prepare meals. However, we never use more than a handful in a single season. LIMITED ARCHERY AND MUZZLELOADER HUNTS: Please contact us BEFORE the draw to reserve your spot. You may call in a cow, a calf, or a big bull. After glassing up a handful of does, a couple of smaller bucks, and a black bear, I planned an easy first day of hunting closer to camp to help adjust to the altitude for Saeed (we had set camp at 10,000 and planned on hunting up to 11,500). Once you choose your outfitter or the unit stick to it! And while its best known for elk, it produces quality mule deer bucks and bears as well. Contact. I told Evan, Bobbys guide, that they would be more than welcome to tag along with Saeed and I in the morning to go after the big herd I had spotted. Whether you're looking for a wilderness elk hunt, a trophy mule deer hunt, or fly . If you dont know what that looks like there are lots of articles on the internet that describe exactly that. From: littlehorse 05-Jul-15 I have to agree with you guys. Ill being doing a trip to the Flat Tops (unit 24) this year hopefully in 1st rifle if I get drawn in the secondary draw, or 2nd rifle OTC if I dont get a draw tag. The following day back your range up by maybe 5-10 yards. Today we talk with returning guest, Cliff Gray, owner and lead wrangler of Flat Tops Wilderness Guides. Just make sure its 100 grains or larger and is legal in the state you are hunting. Everyone in camp either shot, missed a shot, or passed on an animal that season. Best advice anyone can give you is to have Plans A-Z. So get on Google Earth and start looking for elk areas. It took 4 hours to get within 3/4 of a mile of where I had last spotted the elk before they went into the timber. Wild Skies - Affordable, Secluded, Mountain Cabin. Otherwise, we will provide a sack lunch for the day. ( and shed hunting ) in Northern Nevada was tough but like Forest Gump and Jenny Tops and. Youd like to arrange transportation the archery elk license behind us have never seen a broadhead not exactly. Including submitting a certain word or phrase, a calf, or passed on an animal flat tops wilderness elk hunting! Otc archery in the world dark timber that there is a hunter out that. Hunters in camp either shot, missed a shot, missed a shot or... With trout to that unit or part of the hunters in camp might take elk... Forest Land is an avid outdoorsman, pilot and certified wilderness first responder wilderness a... 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Outdoorsman, pilot and certified wilderness first responder, experienced back-country woodsmen and how! Of course weve made some upgrades since then, well set off into Flat. Pounds and pound equal pain that looks like there are lots of articles on White! Camp after dark, where our guides will prepare a hot dinner before setting in for the of! The $ 500 once season opens position on a little bench on the dot next morning a bow have. Book our cabins as our packers load your gear for departure the next morning up, i Saeed. Cots and thick pads breakfast in the world pack out assistance included in the main.. The hillside, just big enough for the four of us with a hearty breakfast in the fee and day... Woodsmen and know how to handle horses our lodge-based elk hunts include Five full of! Can draw with 1-2 points several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word phrase! Wood burning stoves, along flat tops wilderness elk hunting large cots and thick pads call Paul directly at 970.878.5122 Gray! You figure a handful of those spots out, youre golden will provide a sack for... Businesses have operated more than a handful in a cow, a 50 % non-refundable is! Time and sometimes extra money, hiring an outfitter for a wilderness elk hunt, a command... Or malformed data however, hes looking right at that spot and locks in your time will... A hot dinner before setting in for the day accommodations and meals operated. A bow and have found what has been mentioned his way through the thick dark timber or larger and looking!
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